Beach restoration and regeneration systems, methods and compositions

ABSTRACT

A variety of types of wood matter may be used as a starter material. The starter material is processed into wood pieces in the range of about twenty mesh to six inches to form a base product. The base product is installed in windrows along the beach. A fence may be installed between the windrow(s) and the water.

[0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of U.S.provisional application number 60/210,069 filed Jun. 7, 2000.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The invention relates to a sand dune restoration product andprocess which is designed to assist Mother Nature in the naturalrestoration of sand dunes in coastal areas. Coastal erosion is generallycaused by natural elements, such as wind and water. Coastal erosion inthe form of sand dune destruction is a major problem in many areas. Forexample, the loss of sand dunes exacerbates the threat to and loss ofcoastland to the sea, the loss of natural habitats and the loss ofvaluable public and private land and improvements built thereon. Thepresent invention was developed to help arrest, slow or reverse thenatural destruction of sand dunes.

[0003] Other attempts to restore beaches in the past include the use ofrecycled Christmas trees piled on the beaches in an attempt to reducesand dune erosion. In addition, a product called a “Geotube” is beingtested in Galveston, Tex. The product is a composite/plastic tube thatis installed parallel to the beach and filled with sand. Heaping sand ontop of the Geotube to cover the unit creates an artificial dune.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] A variety of types of wood matter may be used as a startermaterial. The starter material is processed into wood pieces in therange of about twenty mesh to six inches to form a base product. Thebase product is installed in windrows along the beach. A fence may beinstalled between the windrow(s) and the water.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005]FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of the process used in the beachinstallation.

[0006]FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the invention at the time ofinstallation.

[0007]FIG. 3 is a top schematic view of the invention at the time ofinstallation.

[0008]FIG. 4 is a view of the invention shown in FIG. 2 after threedays.

[0009]FIG. 5 is a view of the invention shown in FIG. 2 after sevendays.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] The starter material 20 used as the base, or foundation torestore and regenerate the beach 10 near water 16 is presently derivedfrom 100% organic matter 32, primarily a variety of wood matter. Thestarter material 20 is processed so as to maximize its ability (1) tocollect sand 12 for the purpose of dune regeneration and growth and (2)to provide or enable an organic bed of material to enhance and supportplant growth on and around the dune 14. The starter material 20 isprocessed into pieces 22 having a size which maximizes the material'sability to in effect “weave itself” (its constituent pieces 22) into anintertwined mat, pile or nest and which is sufficiently stable tosupport sand 12 and to withstand erosion from wind and rain. The size ofthe pieces 22 of the processed starter material 20 are large enough tocapture wind-blown sand 12 and beach 10 debris but small enough toprovide nutrients for beach 10 and dune 14 flora.

[0011] The raw materials used in the starter material 20 are 100%recycled tree trimmings 24, stumps 26 and/or other natural wood material28. Different proportions of each may be used so long as the nestingeffect may be achieved. The raw materials are processed through acommercially available horizontal woodgrinding machine 30 (representedschematically). Next, other organic matter 32 (representedschematically) such as finished leaf and grass compost may be blendedwith the processed starter material 20 in an amount not to exceed about10% by aggregate weight of the processed starter material 20. The sizeof the pieces 22 of processed starter material 20 ranges from abouttwenty mesh (sieve) (0.20 inch) up to about six (6) inches maximum. Theindividual pieces 22 of the processed starter material 20 take on a widevariety of shapes within these approximate size specifications.

[0012] The processed starter material 20 with or without added leaf,grass, etc. which is used for the installation will be referred to asthe base product 40 (represented schematically). The base product 40 maybe given the opportunity to begin the natural composting and degradationprocess 50 (represented schematically) prior to delivery andinstallation at the beach 10 location. The natural composting anddegradation process 50 increases the nutrient property of the materialand will also improve the ability of the base product 40 to resist thefounding of undesirables, such as weeds, at the beach site 10 due to theelevated temperatures resulting from composting. However, the baseproduct 40 should not be fully composted prior to installation, as itwill not have the proper size to capture the wind-blown sand 12 andbeach 10 debris. If the base product 40 is too fine, it will blow awayor could be severely damaged by rain. The size and installation of thebase product 40 provides the foundation for the growth and restorationof the dune 14 itself and the organic nature of the base product 40provides a better growing medium from which beach 10 and dune flora canbecome established and flourish. The base product 40 is delivered to thebeach site 10 in bulk transportation vehicles (not shown) and installedusing material handling equipment such as front loader and/or hand labor(but not shown). The base product 40 is preferably installed in awindrow shaped pile 60 although other shapes of piles 60 could be usedto achieve the desired effect. The windrow (pile 60) may be installedabout fifteen feet, for example, from the nearest existing dune.

[0013] In a working example the windrow 60 is 200 feet long, by sixtyinches wide from toe 62 to toe 64, by twenty-four to twenty-eight incheshigh at its peak 66. Before or after the windrow 60 has been installed,a fence 70 made of a material such as a ⅜ths inch aperture geotextile(eighteen inches in height) may be installed nearby, such as, withinapproximately two feet from the toe 62 of the windrow 60 on thewater-side of the windrow. Fence stakes 72 may be placed every fivefeet, to anchor the geotextile material in place. The purpose of thegeotextile material is to minimize the erosion of the windrow 60, theresulting dune 14, and/or vegetation in the event of a tidalencroachment, torrential rain, or the like, and to discourage pedestriantraffic. The fence 70 may also assist or enhance in trapping the windblown sand 12.

[0014] The base product 40 is designed to be an all-natural solution orpartial solution to sand 12 dune 14 erosion and destruction caused bystorm and unusual tidal events. The base product 40 will enhance coastalareas in the natural regenerative dune restoration process and willprotect landowners and municipalities from the damaging effects ofhurricanes, tropical storms and unusual tidal surges. Note: The baseproduct is not specifically designed to withstand hurricane forces orsignificant tidal surges that are responsible for dune destruction anderosion in coastal areas. However, within days following such an event,the base product can be installed to begin the natural dune regenerationprocess.

[0015] A test was recently conducted using the working example above.The most surprising result of the test area is the how quickly the dunebegan growing and developing. In three days the test area wassignificantly covered by sand and a dune had grown in width, height andmass. Over an approximate seven week period, it is estimated the workingexample accumulated from forty to two hundred yards of sand. The productdoes not appear to be an eyesore for beach participants when firstinstalled and yet after only a short period of time is naturally coveredby sand and beach debris (seaweed etc.).

[0016] The invention may also be applied in other sand blown regions,such as, for example, environs to be preserved in a desert or in aridagricultural fields where the loss of topsoil to the wind is a problem.

[0017] Additional layers of the base product 40 may be applied or piggybacked onto or near an existing windrow 60 after an initial desirabledune is created. Likewise portions of a windrow could be removed ifdesired such as, for example, to create less uniformity in the resultingdune(s).

[0018] In conclusion, therefore, it is seen that the present inventionand the embodiments disclosed herein are well adapted to carry out theobjectives and obtain the ends set forth. Certain changes can be made inthe subject matter without departing from the spirit and the scope ofthis invention. It is realized that changes are possible within thescope of this invention and it is further intended that each element orstep recited is to be understood as referring to all equivalent elementsor steps. The description is intended to cover the invention as broadlyas legally possible in whatever form it may be utilized.

What is claimed is:
 1. A composition for reducing and reversing erosionof a granular earthy material such as a plurality of grains of sand froman underlying ground such as a beach, comprising: a pile comprising aplurality of natural wood pieces having a target size within the rangeof about 20 mesh to about six inches.
 2. The composition according toclaim 1, wherein said plurality of wood pieces is a raw materialselected from the group consisting of tree trimmings and stumps.
 3. Thecomposition according to claim 1, wherein said pile further includes aleaf compost which is not greater than 10% of an aggregate weight ofsaid pile.
 4. The composition according to claim 1, wherein said pilefurther includes a grass compost which is not greater than 10% of anaggregate weight of said pile.
 5. The composition according to claim 1,wherein said plurality of wood pieces comprises a plurality of compostedwood pieces.
 6. The composition according to claim 1, wherein said pilehas a windrow shape.
 7. The composition according to claim 1, furtherincluding a fence installed proximate a predominantly wind blown side ofsaid pile.
 8. The composition according to claim 1, wherein said fenceis installed within two feet of said pile.
 9. The composition accordingto claim 1, wherein said fence comprises a geo-textile material
 10. Amethod for reducing and reversing erosion of a granular earthy materialsuch as a plurality of grains of sand from an underlying ground such asa beach, comprising: accumulating a starter material from at least onenatural wood material; processing the starter material into a pluralityof pieces within a targeted size range to make a base product; andinstalling the base product along and on top of the ground
 11. Themethod according to claim 10, wherein said processing step comprisesgrinding.
 12. The method according to claim 10, wherein said processingstep comprises processing the starter material into the plurality ofpieces having the target size within the range of about 20 mesh to aboutsix inches.
 13. The method according to claim 10, further includinginstalling a fence on a predominantly wind blown side of the baseproduct.
 14. The method according to claim 10, further includingcomposting the starter material prior to said installing step.
 15. Themethod according to claim 10, further including collecting a wind blownparticulate on the base product.
 16. The method according to claim 15,further including installing an additional layer of the base productafter said collecting step.
 17. The method according to claim 15,further including removing a portion of the base product after saidcollecting step.
 18. The method according to claim 10, further includinggrowing flora on the base product.
 19. The method according to claim 10,wherein said installing step comprises arranging the base product as awindrow.
 20. A beach restoration system, comprising: a windrow placed onthe ground of the beach wherein said windrow comprises a base producthaving a plurality of natural wood pieces.
 21. The beach restorationsystem according to claim 20, further including a fence installedproximate a predominantly wind blown side of said windrow.
 22. The beachrestoration system according to claim 20, wherein the base product has acomposted material.
 23. The beach restoration system according to claim20, wherein said plurality of natural wood pieces has a target sizewithin the range of about 20 mesh to about six inches.